KUDALA SANGAMA most historic
place sincearound 800
years.The famous
rivers Krishna and Ghataprabha merge here and flows towards Srisaila
(another historic palce) of Andra Pradesh.To improve this historic
place, Government has established a Kudala Sangama Development Board
and provided nearly Rs. 45.00 Crores to develop this places has one
of the most sought piligrim centre.Herewith we are
showing some of the photo’s which shows most recently takenup works
to improve the piligrim centre.Kudala Sangama is 15 Km’s from
Almatti (Dam Site ) and 45 Km’s from Bagalkot.

Some Background.

Eight
hundred years ago, there lived a couple by name' Madarasa and
Madalambike in a village called Bagewadi of Bijapur District, in
Karnataka, (South India). They were very pious and deeply religious.
There was a temple of Nandeesh- wara in that village. The husband
and the wife were devotees of Nandeeshwara. Madalambike had a
daughter named Nagamma and she was longing to have a son. She
offered worship every day to God Shiva and prayed to Him to fulfill
her desire. One day after performing the worship she sat in
meditation. A jasmine flower, placed on the Shivalinga as an
offering, fell into her lap. She took it with great devotion,
pressed it gently to her eyes and then wore it in her hair. The
whole day she was beside herself with joy and that night she had a
dream: Shiva from Kailasa had sent Nandi, the bull on which he rode,
to this world. Nandi came to the house of Madarasa and Madalambike.
Then there was light everywhere.

The next morning Madalambike
revealed this dream to Madarasa. He in turn reported it to the Guru,
a spiritual guide of the village. The Guru told him that it was a
good sign. The couple would have a worthy son; he would exalt the
entire family. He would also uplift and enlighten the whole world.
The couple felt very happy when they heard these words of
prophecy.

In
course of time Madalambike gave birth to a son. It was a charming
baby. Its face shone with a brightness not of this world. The Guru
then said: "By the grace of God Shiva, Nandi (also known as
Vrishabha) himself has been born as your son. He will become a great
man and will promote Dharma in the world. He will accomplish the
welfare of the entire mankind. This indeed is your good fortune as
also of this land. Name him as 'Basava'."

Basava
became the revolutionary who taught that right conduct is heaven. He
declared that engaging in work is itself Heaven and taught the
ideals of simple living and the equality between men and women.
People called him Anna (Big brother) because he practiced what he
preached.

Some
of Basavanna’steachings are:

Do
not steal, do not kill. Do not utter lies;Do not lose temper; Do
not detest others;Do not glorify oneself; Do not blame
others.This alone is inside purity. This alone is outside purity
;And this alone is the way to please our Lord Kudalasangama.

To
win over God Basava suggests be pure both inside and outside the
body.He also suggests
ways to achieve purity.

These
words of Basava are very simple.They contain thevery essence
of all the moral codes of all the religions of the world.

The
passage given above is called a Vachana'. Basavanna wrote it.
Kudalasangama was his personal deity. This name appears at the end
of every vachana as a mark of identity.

Basavanna
wrote many vachanas. Before the birth of Basavanna it was customary
to write religious and ethical texts in Sanskrit. But Basavanna
began to write them in Kannada, the language of the common people.
This practice not only enriched the Kannada literature but it also
encouraged ordinary folks to write vachanas. Basavanna preached
that every one should continue in his professional work while
leading a virtuous and spiritual life. Any professional work done in
this spirit, Basava said, was Kayaka (work which is worship). As
everybody was obliged to take up some kayaka the country's economy
improved. Thus Basavanna accomplished reforms in all fields -
religion, morality, social life, economics, language and literature.
No man or women in the history of mankind has accomplished what
Basava achieved with in a few years.Even today, many Governments
are striving to accomplish just one of Basava’s achievements. Basava
is truly a great man.

He
worked for reforms of so many kinds all at the same time and was a
truly great man.

Basavanna
was modest and humble.He said, 'There is none smaller than I.' He said that he did
not want to be praised. He would work with the people as one of
them. He always addressed them, courteously in affectionate terms,
as 'father', 'brother' and so on. He grew to be a great light
shedding brightness not only over our motherland but also over the
whole world.

Basava proclaimed that there is only one God.
God has many names. Surrender yourself completely to Him in
devotion.

Basava said that Compassion is the root of all
religions. Treat all living beings with kindness. Live for the
welfare of all. Do not live for selfish and personal
interests.

Basava said that Those who are acceptable in this
world will be acceptable in the next world too. People should lead a
proper life as householders; only then they will be fit for
spiritual life. One need not give up the family and become a
monk.

No man should be proud thinking 'I give this' or 'I do
that'. What a man does he should do not of devotion in his heart. It
should not be for the sake of show or publicity; or even to win
public praise.

True devotion and virtuous conduct should be
given greater importance than the outward religious formalities. One
should lead a clean and good life both within and without. A pure
mind is more important than scriptures and conventions.

All
people should have equal opportunities for religious life. Birth,
profession, position or sex should make no difference.

One
should not eat or drink just to please the tongue. Food and water
should be taken as 'Prasada' (the gracious gift) of Lord Shiva.
Humility is God's love. Never try to show off your power and
position; and do not be vain.

Everyone should take up a fair
and honest means of livelihood. No one should beg. Out of the daily
earnings one should take only as much as is needed for the
maintenance of the family. The rest should be offered, by way of
service, to God for the benefit of others. Everyone should set right
the crookedness of his mind. Everyone should try to rise to the
level of Godliness through prayer and meditation. This is the goal
of life.Basava’s
birthday is celebrated in the month of May to remind ourself of his
teachings.